Electric thermometer



L July 13, 1937. J. c. HIEBER ET A1.

ELECTRI C THERMOMETE R Filed June 3, 1956 L/.ffelevf GH. HieCV PatentedJuly 13, 1937 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC THERMOMETER John C. Bieber andCornelius A. Hieber,

' Richmond Hill, N. Y.

Application June 3, 1936, Serial No.. 83,392.

3 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inelectric thermometer.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an electricthermometer wherein a signal or control device is associated with amercury thermometer and whereby a signal may be given or a relaycontrolled when a predetermined rise or fall of temperature isregistered on the thermometer whereby a constant degree oi temperaturemay be maintained.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric thermometerof the foregoing character wherein the contact elements associated withthe mercury thermometer may be set at will to permit closing thereof atany desired rise or fall of temperature as registered on thethermometer. i

With the above and other objects in View that will become apparent asthe `nature oi the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel form, combination and arrangement o parts hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:-

2r Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an electric i thermometerconstructed in accordance with the present invention, the glass tubemercury thermometer being enclosed in a tubular metallic casing;

30 Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the thermometercarrying the adjustable contacts for the electric signal; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line -3-3 of Figure 1.

3,. Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, the electricthermometer comprises a sealed glass thermometer tubeAS having a bulbcusportion 6 for mercury at its lower end, an intermediate thickened wallsection dening a rela- 40 tively narrow bore or passage 1 through whichthe mercury 8 moves during expansion and contraction thereof and anupper thin wall section defining a relatively larger assage 9. 'Iheouter surface of the intermediate thickened wall portion of thethermometer tube 5 is graduated as at I0 as is customary withthermometers of this general type.

An electrical contact is adjustably mounted within the glass tube 5 forcooperation with the 50 mercury that constitutes a cooperating contactfor the closing of a circuit to control the degree of temperatures orsound an alarm or signal, the

adjustable contact including an 'elongated wire.

II having a relatively large solenoid core I2 car- 55 ried by the Vupperend thereof and suspended (Cl. 200-14ll from the upper end of thethermometer tube 5 by a conductor coil spring I3, a wire I4 extendingfrom the conductor coil spring I3 to a terminal I5. A second contact I6is xed in the thermometer tube 5 at the upper end of the 5 mercury tube6 and 'has a conductor wire I1 extending to a terminal i8, the terminalsi5 and t8 having conductor wires i9 extending to an alarm or signal 2d,or to a temperature control element, not shown. lo

lime solenoid 2i ior the core i2 that is located within a thermometertube surrounds the thermometer tube as shown in Figure 2 and saidsolenoid or winding has conductor wires 22 eX- tending toterminals 23that have Wires 2S leadl5 ing to a source of electrical energy.

When the solenoid 2i is energized and slid over the thermomer tube '5,the core i2 within the tube that carries the wire contact iI isattracted by the solenoid and is retained in its adjusted 2o position'against accidental displacement by means of the leai spring 25interposed between the core l2 and the glass tube t of the thermometer.

The mercury thermometer 5 and solenoid 2i 25 are enclosed in a metallictube or casing 2B, the same being operi at its lower end and perforatedover the area thereof surrounding the mercury bulb 6, the upper end oithe casing 26 supporting the terminals .i5-I8 and 23, while the upper 30closed end of the casing 26 is provided with a handle or lifting ring28. The wire contact II may have the effective end thereof initially setwith respect to the graduations 30 of the ther- 35 mometer to effect theclosing of the circuit to the signal 20 when the mercury 8 rises in thepassage 'l of the thermometer tube for engagement with the contact II,the initial setting of the wire contact being accomplished by rst ener-40 gizing the coil 2I and then shifting the same over the tube to causethe core I2 to move therewith and to assume a position as shown inFigure 2. To effect adjustment-of `the solenoid 2| within the metalcasing 26, the latter is longitudinally slotted as at 29 to facilitateplacement of a tool or implement into engagement with the solenoid aswill be evident from an inspection of Figure 1.

It is to be understood that the electric thermometer may be used as acontrolling unit, such as to control any degree of temperature inconjunction with a suitable relay.

While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changesmay be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

We claim:- 1. In an electric switch of the character de- 5 scribed, aglass thermometer tube, a xed contact extending into the tube adjacentthe lower end thereof, an adjustable Wire Contact in the tube above thexed Contact and having a solcnoid core at its upper end and a conductorcoil lo spring for suspending the core from the upper end of the tube, asolenoid surrounding the thermometer tube 'and adapted to be slid on thetube and upon energization to move the core and wire contact therewith,said contacts and Solenoid l5 adapted to be connected with a source ofenergy.

2. In an electric switch of the character described, a glass thermometertube, a lined contact extending into the tube adjacent the lower endthereof, an adjustable wire contact in the 20 tube above the xed contactand having a solenoid core at its upper end and a conductor coil springfor suspending the core from the upper end of the tube, a solenoidvsurrounding the thermometer tube and adapted to be slid on the tube andupon energization to' move the core and wire contact therewith, saidcontacts and solenoid adapted to be connected with a source of energy,and a metallic casing enclosing the thermometer tube and solenoid.

3. In an electric switch of the character described, a glass thermometertube, a xed contact extending into the tube adjacent the lower endthereof, an adjustable Wire contact in the tube above the fixed contactand having a solenoid core at its upper end and a conductor coilspringfor suspending the core from the upper end of the tube, a solenoidsurrounding the thermorneter tube and adapted to be slid on the tube andupon energization to move the core and Wire contact therewith, saidcontacts and solenoid adapted to be connected witha source of energy, ametallic casing enclosing the 'thermometer tube and solenoid, and thecasing being longitudinalljr slotted for exposing the thermometergraduations and permitting access to the solenoid for adjustmentthereof.

.JOHN C. HIEBER.

CORNELIUS A. HIEBER.

